Gun wedge breech-closure.



M. HERMSDORF.

GUN WEDGE BREBGH CLOSURE.

APPLICATION TILED 00T.29, 1910.

Patented Aug.25,191L

MAX HERMSDORF, 0F ESSEN-ON-THE-RUI-I n, GERMANY,

ASSIGNOR TO FRIED. KRUP]? AKTIENG-ESELLSCI-IAFT, OF ESSEN-ON-THE-RUHR, GERMANY.

GUN WEDGE BREECI-I-CLOSURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 25, 1914.

Application filed October 29, 1910. Serial No. 589,751.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, lVLAX HERMSDORF, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, and a resident of Essen-on-the-Ruhr, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gun Wedge Breech-Closures, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wedge breech closures for guns, in which an operating lever swings in a groove.

The object of the invention is to relieve from the effect of firing that member of the operating lever, in breech closures of this class, which together with the groove, serves to move the wedge block.

In the drawing :Figure 1 is a detail side elevation of the closed breech; Fig. 2 is a rear view partly in section on the line 22, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detail with the breech in horizontal section and the block in full lines; and Figs. 4 and 5 are views similar to Fig. 3, showing the operating lever in two positions.

The wedge block B can be moved in the wedge hole of the breech A of the gun barrel by means of an operating lever O C- which, in the embodiment shown, is in the shape of a bell crank lever; said lever being mounted on the pivot or trunnion D, on the breech of the gun barrel. The arm C engages an operating groove 6 6 cut in the wedge block B by means of a roller E (see part, Fig. 2) journaled on a stud c of the arm 0 The part b of the operating groove is curved concentrically with the axis of the trunnion D, while part b of the groove runs obliquely to the direction of the movement of the wedge block B. The stud a carrying the roller E is mounted on a boss 0 (Fig. 2) of the arm 0 The boss 0 likewise engages the wedge block and is rounded on the face nearest the trunnion D, preferably to a cylindrical surface which registers with the circumference of the roller E, while its wall remote from the trunnion D presents a broad base or supporting face 0 curved concentrically to the axis of the trunnion D. l/Vhen the breech is closed, the supporting face 0 bears against a face 5 of the wedge block, likewise running concentric to the axis of the trunnion D (Figs. 1 to 3).

In consequence of the arrangement of the face 0* on the boss 0 this latter extends beyond the roller E with two projections c and c Recesses and b for these pro j ections are cut in the side walls of the part b of the operating groove.

Under the face 6 of the wedge block, a trough shaped recess 6 is provided in the corresponding wall of the part b of the operating groove (see part, Fig. 4). The recess b has the same height as the roller E and lies exactly opposite it when the breech is closed.

In consequence of the above described arrangement of the recess 6 the roller E, when the breech is closed, has a clearance in the operating groove in such a direction, that pressure incident to discharge of the gun and tending to open the breech, cannot act upon the roller E and the stud 0 Such a pressure will rather be transmitted immediately to the operating lever by the sup porting faces Z2 and c.

The roller E and the stud 0 are therefore relieved from the action of the discharge and consequently not liable to injury when the gun is fired. Such injuries would cause the roller to be jammed in the operating groove.

In opening and closing the breech the projections c and o b and b as stated.

It is obvious that this invention can also be applied to those wedge breech closures, in which the member of the operating lever cooperating with the operating groove, is constructed with a pin or the usual heart shaped piece instead of the herein described roller.

Claims 1. In a gun wedge breech closure, the combination with the wedge block, an operating groove in one of the parts of the closure, of an operating lever journaled on the other part of the closure, a member on said lever engaging the groove to operate the closure, a supporting face on the lever adapted to bear against a supporting face on that part of the closure having the operating groove when the breech is closed, said supporting faces being so arranged that they may enter into engagement with each other without producing any anovement of the wedge block, and means for completely relieving from the effect of firing the member of the operating lever engaging the operating groove.

2. In a gun wedge breech closure the combination with a wedge block, an operating move in the recesses groove in the wedge block, of an operating lever journaled on the breech of the gun barrel, a roller journaled on said lever and engaging the operating groove to operate the closure, a supporting face on the operating lever adapted to bear against a supporting face on the wedge block when the breech is closed, said supporting faces being so arranged that they may enter into engagement with each other without producing any movement of the wedge block, and a recess in one of the side walls of the operating groove for completely relieving the roller from the effect of firing.

3. In a gun wedge breech closure, the combination with a wedge block, a partly curved operating groove in the wedge block, having an open end, and a closed end, said groove having recesses in both of its side walls toward its closed end, and a recess near its open end in its side wall remote from the axis of operation, and an operating lever adapted to engage with said groove and said recesses alternately.

t. In a gun wedge breech closure, the combination with the wedge block having a curved operating groove with an open end and a closed end, said groove being provided with a recess in one of its side walls near its open end, of an operating lever journaled on the breech of the gun barrel, a roller journaled on said lever engaging said groove and registering with said recess when the breech closure is closed, to operate the closure, the end of the lever extending beyond the periphery of the roller for engagement with said side wall of the groove, when the breech is closed whereby the lever acts to sustain the effect of the discharge of the gun and protect the roller from injury.

5. In a gun wedge breech closure, the combination with a wedge block provided with a curved operating groove having an open end and a closed end and recesses in both Gopies of this patent may be obtained for of its side Walls toward its closed end, and at the same level, and a recess at a different level in one of its side walls near its open end, of an operating lever journaled on the breech of the gun and having an arm with a broad working surface, a roller journaled on said lever so that its periphery does not extend beyond said working surface of the lever, said roller projecting within the operating groove, the broad Working surface of the lever engaging the side Wall of the operating groove at its open end when the block is in closed position so as to act as a compression member between the block and the breech, the recess in the side Wall of the groove near its open end, freeing the roller from contact with the wall of the groove when the block is in closed position.

6. In a gun wedge breech closure, the combination with a wedge block provided with a. curved operating groov e having an open end and a closed end, said groove being disposed obliquely to the direction of the movement of the block and provided with recesses in both of its side walls toward its closed end and at the same level, and a recess at a different level in one of its side walls near the open end; of a bell crank lever journaled on the breech of the gun, one arm of which terminates in a broad end, projections extending from said broad end, a roller journaled on said arm with its periphery not extending beyond the end of the arm, said roller projecting within the curved operating groove of the block and cooperating with said groove to open and close the block.

The foregoing Barmen, Germany,

MAX HERMSDORF. [n s.] In presence of ALFRED IIINKEL, WALTER VONNEGUT.

specification signed at this 15th day of October,

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Yatents,

Washington, D. C. 

